RE: McLaren Mercedes SLR: Showpiece of the Week

[jet_noise]

One of the best-ever sounding cars.

[Monkeylegend]

jet_noise said:

One of the best-ever sounding cars.

Not on Jersey though.

[Alex_225]

This car is partly what sent me down the Mercedes route, albeit 10+ years later.

I recall seeing this driven by Clarkson on Top Gear and on one of his DVDs and just loving it. I think it still looks excellent (coupe preferably) and obviously over 600bhp today is a lot let alone back then.

Admittedly looking at the interior now it looks like a slightly better SL but the overall package I love. With it's supercharged V8 and 5 speed auto, compared to today's fast cars it's probably more a super fast, comfy cruiser but I suspect old school or not it's massively capable.

Sadly for me the prices are still high, so I'll aim for an E55 and pretend it looks like an SLR!

[Monkeylegend]

Alex_225 said:

Sadly for me the prices are still high, so I'll aim for an E55 and pretend it looks like an SLR!

I console myself with the knowledge that my SL350 looks pretty similar as you well know

[swisstoni]

Alex_225 said:

This car is partly what sent me down the Mercedes route, albeit 10+ years later.

I recall seeing this driven by Clarkson on Top Gear and on one of his DVDs and just loving it. I think it still looks excellent (coupe preferably) and obviously over 600bhp today is a lot let alone back then.

Admittedly looking at the interior now it looks like a slightly better SL but the overall package I love. With it's supercharged V8 and 5 speed auto, compared to today's fast cars it's probably more a super fast, comfy cruiser but I suspect old school or not it's massively capable.

Sadly for me the prices are still high, so I'll aim for an E55 and pretend it looks like an SLR!

Or get an SL55.

[loudlashadjuster]

Was buzzed by a Stirling Moss SLR a few weeks back, an absolutely stunning thing to behold.

[hornmeister]

Had friends in Woking and I was staying over before the SLR was launched. As I was parking up outside their house, I heard and felt a massive rumble as two pre-production SLRs drove past me. Didn't know what they were at the time but they sounded absolutely epic.

[Harry H]

The only car that since launch has remained on my lottery list.

[Alex_225]

swisstoni said:

Alex_225 said:

This car is partly what sent me down the Mercedes route, albeit 10+ years later.

I recall seeing this driven by Clarkson on Top Gear and on one of his DVDs and just loving it. I think it still looks excellent (coupe preferably) and obviously over 600bhp today is a lot let alone back then.

Admittedly looking at the interior now it looks like a slightly better SL but the overall package I love. With it's supercharged V8 and 5 speed auto, compared to today's fast cars it's probably more a super fast, comfy cruiser but I suspect old school or not it's massively capable.

Sadly for me the prices are still high, so I'll aim for an E55 and pretend it looks like an SLR!

Or get an SL55.

Well there is that although having lived with an SL350 for about 18 months (other half's daily car) I'm not sure I'd have an another SL. Plus I need four seats hence the E55 trail of though.

[MX6]

swisstoni said:

always looked badly proportioned to me

I agree to an extent, it's an interesting if something of an odd looking motor to my eye.

I'm not so keen on the way that the rear is significantly higher than the front, there's a fair bit of body above the rear wheel arch whereas the front is low, so the rake looks somewhat over done.

I really like the long, low bonnet with the all the side vent and exhaust exits behind the front wheel, seems a unique look to the SLR. But it looks a bit like an SL back end grafted on.

[PorkFan]

Didn't like them when they were new.....and still dont now.

Look about as good as a base model 1999 SLK (not very, if you were wondering)

If i was looking for something fast and comfortable, I'd rather have seconhand remapped RS6 at about a 1/10th of the price.

A car for rich people that have no interest in cars to me.....or for the wife if shes a WAG wannabe

[jet_noise]

Monkeylegend said:

jet_noise said:

One of the best-ever sounding cars.

Not on Jersey though.

40mph limit or some other reason?

[tuscy]

re. "German engine supplier"

The McLaren F1 team engine supplier was British - Ilmor - which Mercedes bought and re-badged as Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines Ltd.

Now called Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, still based in Northamptonshire and doing rather well.

[WCZ]

PorkFan said:

Didn't like them when they were new.....and still dont now.

Look about as good as a base model 1999 SLK (not very, if you were wondering)

If i was looking for something fast and comfortable, I'd rather have seconhand remapped RS6 at about a 1/10th of the price.

A car for rich people that have no interest in cars to me.....or for the wife if shes a WAG wannabe

they are a great car to drive, ask anyone who's owned one who wasn't just a rich poser.

and that's crazy to to compare the looks to a 99 base slk



vs

[Monkeylegend]

jet_noise said:

Monkeylegend said:

jet_noise said:

One of the best-ever sounding cars.

Not on Jersey though.

40mph limit or some other reason?

Less than that in many places, very frustrating with a car like that.

[WJNB]

That dreary plastic looking interior has been lifted from the second generation SLK surely?

[DKL]

According to reliable sources the sbs brake unit costs £10k if you can get MB Goodwood to sell you one, which they aren't keen to.
Virtually the same unit for other period MB cars is about £700.

[Its Just Adz]

I never was a fan of these, then got a chance to drive one for an hour or so.
Massively disappointed.
Just felt heavy and not that excited.
Having driven a CLK DTM a few days earlier, that absolutely blew it apart. So much more bespoke, and quicker too.

[Chestrockwell]

Its Just Adz said:

I never was a fan of these, then got a chance to drive one for an hour or so.
Massively disappointed.
Just felt heavy and not that excited.
Having driven a CLK DTM a few days earlier, that absolutely blew it apart. So much more bespoke, and quicker too.

I find that hard to believe, I briefly owned an old rusty CLK430 with an AMG exhaust and I loved it, it felt like a hot rod and it only had 275 bhp!

Did you drive the car when it had come out? I imagine driving it now and comparing it to a new car if it’s type might leave you disappointed, actually....how did you not like it! Ha

[Its Just Adz]

Chestrockwell said:

I find that hard to believe, I briefly owned an old rusty CLK430 with an AMG exhaust and I loved it, it felt like a hot rod and it only had 275 bhp!

Did you drive the car when it had come out? I imagine driving it now and comparing it to a new car if it’s type might leave you disappointed, actually....how did you not like it! Ha

No not when first came out, maybe around 2013 I think?
I just didn't like it, I'm sure I'm not the only person who isn't a fan.